Strike may halt gas provision

Johannesburg - Trade union Solidarity on Wednesday warned that strikes in the industrial chemicals sector could paralyse the provision of gas.

Solidarity said it would consider issuing a 48-hour notice for a strike in the industrial chemicals sector if members decided not to accept employers' final wage increase offer of 8%.

Wage negotiations in this sector of the National Bargaining Council for the Chemical Industry reached breaking point earlier this month following the failure of mediation sessions by a commissioner of the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration.

Two additional trade unions in the sector, the Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood and Allied Workers' Union and the General Industries Workers' Union of SA have already issued strike notices.

Solidarity spokesperson Jaco Kleynhans said the union had called on employers during the 'drawn-out' wage negotiations to stop its stubborn behaviour and pay employees a liveable wage.

Afrox, Sasol, Foskor and Omnia are among the large employers involved in wage negotiations in the sector, according to Solidarity.

"A strike is always the last resort and in this sector it could eventually hold very negative consequences, especially since it could paralyse the provision of gas, among other things. Gas is an essential resource on which thousands of people depend, especially in the throes of winter," Kleynhans said.

Solidarity is demanding a wage increase of consumer price inflation plus 2%. The trade union is already in possession of a strike certificate, which was issued to trade unions at the end of June.

- I-Net Bridge